Handcrafted houseboat
Feacebricks – 2023
The practice of transforming boats into houseboats is spread across the world. Charming houseboats are often handcrafted by the owners, with a touch of creativity and the use of reclaimed materials. This is Todd and Ryan’s fairytale houseboat, which they built using reclaimed materials, and now they live in harmony with nature!
Artwork descriptionÂ
The Handcrafted Houseboat sails peacefully along the great river!
– At the bow has an outdoor living area.
– Inside the covered area, there is the entrance, the control console, the living room, the kitchen, and the bathroom.
– The front ladder, leads to the first floor. Here, we find an outdoor relaxation space, and the old pilot’s cabin that is now transformed into a bedroom.
– At the stern, there is a piano.
– At the top of the cockpit there are communication equipment and solar panels.
– The houseboat now uses an electric motor and has a water recycling system.
An eco-friendly houseboat filled with loveÂ
Todd and Ryan made their houseboat by repurposing components from an old all blue transport boat and an abandoned wooden cabin. The original parts of the boat are blue, such as the sides and the ends of the hull at the bow and stern, the small windows, and even the upper old cockpit.
The wood from the old cabin was used to expand the bow and stern and to create the new living area; the old cabin railing now serving as a handrail on the first floor. Other reclaimed materials were used, such as sheet metal signs and recycled windows.
Read Todd and Ryan’s story!
Sail Through Calm Waters
The new control panel is located in the main room. It’s easy to use, and you’ll discover many enchanting places.
Cook Your Favorite Dishes
The kitchen is fully equipped, so you can comfortably prepare whatever you desire, even delicious muffins!
Have a Snack Outdoors
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner taste better when enjoyed with your dog and immersed in nature!
Take Panoramic Photos
The view from the elevated deck is the best for capturing breathtaking images.
Play the Piano
Play your music inspired by the sounds of nature, and become one with it!
Enjoy Outdoor Activities
With a kayak or bike trip, you can explore new places and stay fit.
Todd and Ryan's StoryÂ
Before: Todd
As a child, Todd loved spending time with his grandfather in his cabin in the Wooded Hill, near the Great River springs. He would watch him for hours carving wood and skillfully using tools to craft furniture for the cabin.
He was a lively and very curious child. He would chase bees to study their paths and smell the scents of flowers, trying to understand if there was a correlation between their essences and the colors of their petals.
As a teenager, Todd continued to seek refuge in the Wooded Hill at his grandfather’s cabin. He loved riding his mountain bike along long trails, with his brown hair flowing in the wind, in the silence of nature. Even more often, he would relax lying on the green bank of the Great River. He would watch the water flow slowly, imagining how many places it would go through over its long course, how many trees and animals would mirror themselves in its waters, how many different people would appreciate its calm presence and constant flow.
With his first camera he began photographing plants, trees, and small animals. His photos were highly appreciated by his friends, as they were vibrant and magical at the same time, and everyone wanted his prints.
Then: Todd and Ryan
It should be no surprise that Todd, after studying Visual Arts, chose to focus on his passion for nature photography, encouraged by the appreciation of his teachers.
It was at one of the first exhibitions of his works that he met Ryan, who approached him in a friendly manner. Ryan asked him how much careful and patient waiting there was behind each one of his stunning photos. They depicted trees, waters, and flowers in exuberant colors, intertwining in sinuous forms, to the extent that Ryan, while looking at them, felt as if he could hear the sounds of nature.
A week later Todd left his office earlier than usual (he had a job as a graphic designer), to attend a concert by Ryan, a passionate pianist who loved both his instrument and being in contact with nature. While listening to the melodies, Todd went back in his mind to the banks of the Great River, near the springs, where he used to lay.
Before: RyanÂ
Ryan grew up in Dream Harbour. He had a happy childhood, running along the sea or in the streets by the colorful buildings overlooking it, spending hours chatting with the artisans and cultivators at the pier. They made their dreams come true by bringing joy to their customers, who received the products of their imagination and their work every day.
His grandma taught him how to play the piano. She had one at home, under the porch overlooking the garden that stretched to the pier, towards the sea. She herself had been a respected pianist, and she felt a deep sense of joy when her little grandson began to show interest in her instrument. Ryan would practice in the evenings. Often, passersby would stop for a few minutes, listening to the music played by that blond child. Simple music, yet so sweet.
As a teenager, Ryan would play gentle music for the citizens of Dream Harbour, the notes merging with the sounds of the sea, blending as if the waves, both marine and musical, met and danced together. He also loved exploring the mouth of the Great River on his kayak, flowing out
of the forest and joining the sea. He fantasized about the landscapes it would have passed through its long course, from the Wooded Hill to Dreams Harbour. He imagined melodies emanating from those pristine environments, that he then captured on paper, giving life to his first compositions.
After obtaining his piano diploma, Ryan started playing small concerts in the villages along the Great River, preferring to play outdoors, in nature, perhaps near the water. The unanimous opinion of those who attended his performances was that his music was nothing short of magical.
Now: Todd and Ryan  Â
Since their first meeting, the two boys spent nearly all their time together. They dreamed of playing music in nature, taking photos of trees, flowers, and animals, and exploring the Great River together. They were undecided whether to settle in Dream Harbour or in the Wooded Hill.
Finally, they decided that they would live in both places, as well as in all natural environments that they imagined the Great River would go through. To achieve this, all they needed was for their home to be able to sail!
In Dream Harbour, the two boys purchased a small, decommissioned, all-blue transport boat. In the Wooded Hill, they acquired materials from an abandoned cabin, which needed to be dismantled, thus sourcing a lot of wood, doors, windows, and balustrades. Todd and Ryan passionately worked on building their houseboat in the following months, using various reclaimed materials. They had Sun on their side, the puppy they adopted exactly one year after they first met.
The houseboat is now ready. They can live in it, sail with it, work in it, enjoy various activities and rejoice togheter in nature. The houseboat combines the blue of the sea with the brown and green of the forest. It is unique because it was built with their own hands, according to their desires. Todd and Ryan have begun their journey together. They are always accompanied by the music and colors of the nature they both love so deeply.
VOTE FOR THE PROJECT ON LEGO IDEAS
Handcrafted Houseboat can become an official LEGO set! All you need to do is vote for it on the LEGO Ideas website by scanning the QR code. Once it reaches 10,000 votes, it will be reviewed by a team of LEGO experts and could be released for sale!
Thank you for your support!
